A/N: Hey all. I just wanted to apologize for my slower posting rate lately. I've been rather busy with life, and also the story ended up needing to be restructured/re-thought out. Things are looking good though, so hopefully I can get back to a semi-regular updating schedule. This chapter is rather short, as it mostly sets up for the next chapter. The action is only going to pick up from here, so buckle up your seat-belts and enjoy the ride.
Also another big thank you to all of you who follow/favorite/review. I know you all don't have to do it, and I appreciate it. I'm glad you guys care enough about this story to leave your kind words and keep wanting more, it means a lot. Thanks again and enjoy the chapter!
Clarke walked through the market, mouth watering with all the flavors dancing in the air. This food is nothing compared to what I've been getting in the Commander's tower. At first she had tried anything and everything, all of it looking juicy and delicious. A strange looking dish that had looked as appetizing as the others brought about an end to her tasting streak after she almost vomited the second the food hit her tongue. After that, she had been content to walk the streets and just look at everything else.
Her ever present shadows had kept their distance for the most part, allowing her the illusion of freedom. Clarke knew better than to believe in that, however. They'll hunt me down in an instant if I try to run. Glancing over her shoulder, she confirmed the two of them were still there, much to her disappointment. Sighing, she pressed on through the crowds, trying to ignore the various stares and hushed comments toward her.
Polis will change the way you think about my people.
Clarke hated to admit it, but the Commander's words about the city really held true. From the first moment she stepped out of the tower, her view of Grounder culture was shattered. Herself and the other one hundred who came down in the dropship only viewed them as savages and warriors for the longest time. Here, they were normal people, just trying to make a living. Street merchants offering samples of their wares, trying to get customers to purchase their wares. Customers haggling prices down, bartering this and that to come to an agreement. It was all so different to her... but it all sounded like the things she had read in the books on the Ark.
Clarke pressed through the crowds, growing more bolder the longer she wandered the streets. A hand reached out and grabbed her, and before she had time to scream she was being dragged into an alleyway and a hand pressed over her mouth. Scream, run, fight... anything! She let out a muffled scream as she tried to fight out of the strong grip pressing her against a mind commanded her to do something, anything to get away, but she was not strong enough to break free. Fear turned to bewilderment when she raised her eyes to the person holding their hand over her mouth. The man who tried to stop Roan, she realized, eyes widening. Orion. How did he find me?
"Are you calm now, Wanheda?" Orion asked, still holding his hand over her mouth. "Will you scream if I remove my hand?"
Clarke paused for a second, letting her racing heart calm down. He tried to help me before. If he wanted to kill me... he had plenty of opportunity. She didn't like it, but Clarke eased her muscles and nodded. The next instant, Orion removed his hands from her and moved a step back. She exhaled a breath she didn't know she was holding and rubbed her mouth instinctively.
"Apologies for the roughness," Orion said, wringing his hands as he started to pace. "I had to be quick. Your guards are good. I tried to get to you earlier, but I would have been spotted." Orion lowered his voice to a whisper as he moved closer to Clarke. "You are safe, this is good. It will not be so for long," he said, head swiveling around in every direction as he talked.
"Why are you here? How did you find me?" Clarke asked, whispering herself, though she didn't know why. Something seemed... off to her about Orion. He doesn't seem like he's all... here right now. His muscles were all tense and coiled, and distraught was plastered over his face. "And what do you mean I won't be safe for long?"
"It is not everyday that you get to see Wanheda," Orion said softly, peeking around the corner of the alley. "Your friends made it to the Mountain, curse its existence. I promised to find you, and that I have." Orion walked back to her and placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned close. "The Azgeda are here, and looking for you. Run back to the tower while you still can."
Chills ran down Clarke's spine. She hoped to never see anyone from the Ice Nation again after she found out Nia's plan. If he's right... they won't stop until they find me. I'm her insurance policy. She thought of being dragged back to Azgeda territory to be held prisoner until Nia succeeded in killing the Commander, or until Nia deemed it necessary to kill her for her perceived power. Why me? The question poured over her mind as she stood there, leaning against the wall.
"Please, you must go," Orion pleaded, ushering Clarke back towards the streets. "I have given you a warning. Go back to your cell and stay there. My Queen's men may already be roaming the streets near here."
"Okay," Clarke said. Before she rounded the corner to walk back on the streets, she turned back to look at Orion. Niylah never told me what happened to him. He looks... broken. "What happened to you? Why did you run away?" She didn't expect an answer, but she wanted to know. She needed to know. Deep down, she knew that if things didn't change for her, she could very well end up like him.
Orion stood there for a moment, completely silent and still. Clarke almost turned and walked away, but he finally raised his head to meet her gaze. "I couldn't save them..." he muttered, his voice choking. "Such a shame I am. My family, taken by those devils. Me, a great warrior of the Azgeda, powerless to stop it. Nobody tried to stop it." Clarke noticed the darkened tone his voice took, and he shook his head, multiple times. "Go now! A man's ramblings delay you. Be safe, Wanheda."
Clarke felt for Orion, but knew she wasn't going to get anything else out of him. She nodded and turned and ran into the streets. It didn't take long for her guards to find her once she was back out in the open. The two of them came up to her, shouting, but she didn't have time and interrupted them. "I'll tell you where I was later, but you have to get me back to the tower. Now." She tried to use as much force in her voice as she could muster, and it seemed to work, as the anger on their faces turned to confusion.
"Why? Why do you say this?" One of her guards asked while the other looked around. Commotion already started in the streets, and some shouts were heard a couple of streets over.
"The Azgeda are in Polis. They're looking for me, right now. I need to get back," she said, already pushing past them in the direction of the tower. Orion said I was in danger. The longer I'm out here, the more at risk I am. The voices a couple of streets over started to become clearer, and she heard Nia's name being called.
Her two guards wordlessly filed in behind her, staying much closer this time. Clarke shuffled hurriedly through the masses, making the best time she could towards the tower. As she half-jogged, she kept her head tilted as she could in a futile effort to avoid being recognized. They all know who I am, she thought, chiding herself. You don't look like a Grounder and you have a full head of blonde hair. Nevertheless, it was an extra measure that couldn't hurt.
Her heart was pounding by the time she reached the entrance of the tower. Heart beating rapidly, she made her way up the steps. When she reached the top, she crashed into someone and felt something slide into her jacket. Strong hands kept her from falling, and she looked up to see Roan holding her up. Confused, she reached into her jacket to feel what had been put there. At first she felt a bundle of cloth, and her wonder only grew. "What is-"
"A gift, for the Commander" Roan interrupted, whispering in her ear. He steadied her back onto her feet and brushed off her jacket. He looked over her shoulder and Clarke figured he must have seen her guards approaching. "I'm hoping that you can give it to her, for me." Before Clarke could open her mouth to talk, he turned away and merged back into the crowd that was gathering in the tower.
As her guards began to catch up, Clarke started walking as well. She pressed her arms tightly against her sides, trying to keep the object Roan put there in place. Curiosity got the better of her and she reached her right hand into her jacket to feel the object again. Again, she felt the cloth, but gripped it a bit harder this time. Her blood went cold when she felt hard metal underneath. Tightening her grip even more, her heart sank. It's my dagger, she realized. Blood rushing, she withdrew her hand and crossed her arms over her stomach, holding her jacket close. They made their way to the elevator, but Clarke hardly was aware of where she was going. She knew what the dagger was for, knew what Roan wanted her to do. Clarke stepped in the elevator, and sank into the corner behind her guards. The doors closed and Clarke clutched herself tightly as she contemplated what to do next. Do I really want Lexa dead?
Lexa sat on her throne, waiting for the inevitable. Word came that Queen Nia was coming to meet with her, and she did her best to steel herself for the occasion. The various ambassadors and representatives from the clans gathered about the room, whispering amongst themselves. Lexa herself was dead silent and still as a rock. Donning the guise of the Commander came easily to her enough, she had been doing it for years. At the moment, though, it was taking all of her experience not to break from it.
With each passing moment her heart thudded against her chest. Each second going by, she dreaded the woman walking through that door. Ever since she had created the coalition, Nia had been gracious enough to not enter Polis. That was the hardest day of my life, Lexa recalled. It took everything in me to not cut her down once I beat her. When Titus told her during her training as a nightblood that being Heda would take everything from her, she brushed it off as exaggeration. After she spared Nia's life that day, she finally understood his teachings. If only I had known.
Wood creaked and groaned, the doors to Lexa's throne room opening up. A chill seemed to fill the air as she watched Queen Nia walk forward towards her. She knew the cold was just her own imagination, but it didn't make it seem any less real. The Azgeda queen walked regally towards her and Lexa gripped the edge of her throne until the whites of her knuckles showed before standing up. "Nia," Lexa said as icily as she could, doing little to hide the disdain in her words. Titus would say that is not very Heda-like of me. "Why have you come here? Why is there an army within marching distance of Polis?" She wanted to skip all pleasantries and get straight to business. The sooner Nia is out of here, the better.
"Heda," Nia replied smoothly, bowing her head slightly out of respect. "It is good to see you. It has been quite some time." The Queen, flanked by her guards, walked a few steps closer to Lexa's throne. "But I see you are in no mood for pleasantries, though I suppose we never have. I will speak clearly, then" Nia stated, staring straight into Lexa's eyes. I hate her eyes. They're so... cold, Lexa thought, repressing a shudder. "We both know that Wanheda is here, so let us not spend time debating that. However, someone saw fit to invade my lands and take her here."
"I had a bounty out to bring Clarke to Polis, alive," Lexa retorted. She shifted in her throne and looked Nia dead in the eyes. "You disobeyed my orders by keeping her at your castle." Lexa rose from her throne and slowly walked down to stand in front of Nia. "And now you bring an army to Polis. You are bold, Nia, I cannot deny that. However, you are not stupid. You will march your army back north, or I will be forced to treat you as an enemy of the twelve clans." Every inch of her body wanted Nia to refuse. The tips of her sword hand twitched in anticipation as she waited for the woman to respond. Please, give me the reason I need to end you, you bitch.
"This is true," Nia responded, clasping her hands behind her back. "However, you also ordered Skaikru to invade my lands and bring her to you." Lexa opened her mouth to shoot down the ridiculous accusation, but Nia held her hand up. "You will say that you didn't, but I will not believe that. You have worked with the Skaikru before, it's not unthinkable you would do it again. Now, blood may not have been shed, but we have both been wronged." Nia unclasped her hands and moved closer to Lexa. "Something must be done."
I can cut off your head. Lexa wished she could say that, but the Ice Queen gave her no cause to do so. She never does, except the day I made her submit. "I'm listening," she replied reluctantly, internally wincing as the words left her tongue. The last thing she wanted to hear was what Nia had to say.
"A duel," Nia stated emphatically. "I'm sure you're very aware of how hard life is for us in the north." Nia spread her arms out wide, spinning around once. "Here in the capital, food is plentiful. We shall name a fighter, and you as well. I win, and we get three carts full of food. I lose... you will throw a bountiful feast for the people, and be loved for it."
So this is what you wanted, Lexa realized. She looked around the room and already Nia's words were sinking in with those in the room. If there was one thing that was loved in Polis, it was feasts. They rarely happened, but when they did it was a sight to behold. And it all looks like her idea. Judging from the ambassadors nodding their heads in approval, Lexa knew that she couldn't refuse at this point. If Nia wants to play, lets play. "Very well then. You will have your duel, Nia. A battle of swords, to the first blood, to be fought in two days. I name myself fighter for Polis." That drew a few cheers from those in the room, but Nia smiled instead.
"And I have no doubt you would win, Heda," Nia conceded. The Ice Queen turned her head slightly back to face the rest of the people in the room as she spoke. "However, how would it look if the Heda fights against her own people?" The smug look that adorned Nia's face made Lexa crawl with rage, wanting to tear it off with her bare hands.
She is clever, I will give her that, she begrudgingly thought. If you want to play that way, Nia, so can I. "Very well. I do not show favorites, thus I will recuse myself from fighting in this duel." Lexa gave pause to let Nia feel more confident, savoring it knowing that she was about to wipe the grin off of her face. "I name Roan kom Azgeda to fight in my stead."
The room grew silent and Lexa could barely contain the raging smile that she wanted to unleash as she watched Nia's face drop. You underestimated me Nia. It was a good plan, but I knew why Roan was here the moment you brought up the duel. She wasn't going to let the Queen have the satisfaction of having her son fight for her. Roan would have been an excellent choice, she had seen the man in action herself when she conquered the Azgeda forming the Coalition. Lifting his banishment if he wins should be motivation enough. Plus, he hates to lose.
"I... will need some time to decide who to name," Nia said. Surprising, Lexa thought. She was really not counting on that. She's stunned. Lexa couldn't contain her smile this time, letting it creep over her face. "You will know your opponent when we take the field in two days." The Ice Queen turned heel and stormed out of the room, her face stone and her gaze at her feet.
When the queen finally was out of sight and gone from the room, Lexa relaxed her stance. "All of you, leave. Spread the word. This duel is happening." I want the biggest audience possible, all to watch Nia get humiliated. She thinks she can come in and undermine my rule, she will learn. Her only regret was that she couldn't personally beat whoever Nia sent out there. It would be a small step towards revenge for the death of Costia.
The doors to the throne room closed, leaving Lexa alone to herself. She looked own and saw her hand trembling, and grasped it with the other. It was only then that she noticed how high her heart-rate really was. Even after all this time, she still has this affect on me. Though she knew she had other things to focus on, Lexa couldn't help but think of Clarke. She thanked the spirits of the past commanders that Nia didn't know what Clarke meant to her. If the Queen had, Clarke's head would be in a box, delivered to her just like Costia.
I've brought nothing but pain to Clarke since we met, but I cannot draw myself away. For so long after Nia robbed her of love, Lexa withdrew into Titus' teachings. Love is weakness. Your life belongs to the people. Blood must have blood. All of that changed when Clarke came into the mix. As selfish as it was, she refused to go back into that dark place. She grew increasingly concerned for Clarke by the day. Guards had informed her that Clarke was having full conversations with people that weren't there, and she could sense the hatred from the sky girl every time their eyes met. I will make it up to her, Lexa determined. If Nia is moving against me, I want her by my side. I want no regrets.
Sighing, Lexa did her best to cast aside those thoughts. There would be time to dwell on them later. For now, she had a city to run and much preparation to do. She paused at the doors, took a deep breath in, and exited the doors, once again wearing the Commander's face. Time to get to work.